Campaign win as government sets hedgerow targets

In a landmark decision for hedgerows, meeting the target will restore the UK’s hedgerow network. And it puts farmers at the heart of plans to reconnect and re-establish the country’s largest nature reserve.

Commenting on the government’s announcement, Tom Fyans, CPRE’s interim chief executive, said: ‘This new hedgerow target is an incredible step forward by the government and shows that the penny has finally dropped when it comes to the potential of hedgerows to tackle the climate and nature crises. We’ve been calling for a clear target to expand our hedgerow network for years nationally and locally and it’s fantastic that the government is now taking this forward.’

CPRE has been campaigning for a target to restore hedgerows by 40% by 2050 for two years. The target was recommended by the independent Climate Change Committee and is equivalent to about 120,000 miles in Britain – half way to the moon! 

Boyd McCleary, Hampshire Hedgerow lead said: “CPRE Hampshire is in the second year of our own local Hedgerow Heroes campaign which has included projects in the New Forest and Titchfield, restoring existing hedges and planting new ones. Education and community engagement has been key, bringing together hedgerow experts with local groups, volunteers and schools. The interest and what’s been achieved has been incredible. And this government announcement goes above and beyond so we are delighted our campaign has been heard and acted upon.”

Hedgerows have been a defining feature of the countryside for more than 1,000 years. They bring landscapes to life with beauty and character and provide tangible signs of the changing seasons, while giving a strong sense of continuity. Hedgerows provide a wealth of benefits: forage, shelter and shade for livestock; habitat for pollinators and pest predators; connecting habitats, shelter and food for wildlife, and protection for soil and carbon absorption.

But despite decades of interventions, many hedgerows are still in a degraded state, largely because of a lack of management. Planting rates under agri-environment schemes are too low and slow to reverse the hedgerow losses of the last century.

Tom Fyans warned: ‘Plans on paper are worth nothing if they are not accompanied by concerted action. We welcome the government’s target of expanding the hedgerow network but the commitment will be worth little unless there are firm policies to make it a reality. The time to start planting new hedgerows and improving those we have is now. To hit net zero concerted action is needed to plant and restore hedgerows, in both the wider countryside and in urban areas.

At CPRE Hampshire, hedgerows continue to be a priority and whilst phase 2 maybe coming to an end, exciting plans are afoot to keep the momentum going. Keep your eyes peeled.

Visit the CPRE Hampshire Hedgerow Hub.